wright



Oct. 13,1925;

v J.` P. WRIGHT HECHANISI FOR STRAIGH'IENING AND ASSEMBLING SFLIN'I'Sv med oct. 21. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheetv 1 ugo/w div/oec...

Oct. 13, 1925. 1,557,516

J. P. WRIGHT MEUHI'SM FOR STRIGHTENING AND ASSEMBLIHG SPLINTS Filed oct. 21. 1924 busts-Sheet 2 Oct. 13, 1925 J. P. WRIGHT MECHANISM AFon STRAIGHTENINGAND Assmann@ sPLINTs Filed ocr. 21. 1924 4 Sheets-sheet s oct. 13,1925. 1,551,516

. J. P. WRIGHT MECHAHISI P'OR STRAIGHTENING AND ASSEIBLIHG SPLINTS Filed Oct. 21 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Get. 13, 1925.

narran STATES 1,557,516 llt-telar OFFICE.-

JAooB i?. WRIGHT, or Bnnnnnroer, onto,Y nssrenon.- 'ro man 'mano-Nn ivLArcri: corr- PANY, or CHICAGO; rma-Nere, n oonronnroivfor ILLINOIS.

MEGHANISM FOR STRAIGHTENING AND ASSEMBLING S-PLINTS.-

Application mea october 2i,- 1924. Serial No. M4-,864.

To all 'whom t may Gomera.' u

Be it known that I, JACOB FWN/linear, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Barberton, in the county ot' Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Straightening and Assembling Splints, oi' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for straightening and assemblingniatch splints; and its object is the provision of simple and eiiicicnt means whereby quantities of splints are rapidly separated from a promiscuously mixed mass and arranged in an orderly manner. The invention has been` especially, though not exclusively, designed for use in connection with or as an attachment `to the type of match making machines wherein splints contained in a magazine are ejected row by row therefrom and inserted endwise into an adjacent endless carrier by means of which the splints are transported through the match making cycle; my invention when thus co-operatively associated with a match making machine insuring the constant lill,- ing of the magazine with properly arranged splints. i p j The invention, generally stated, comprises a rotary receptacle into which the splints, in mass, are delivered from a.v suitable source of splint supply, said receptacle including parallel rows of open pockets or compa-rt ments by means of which groups of splints are separated from the mass and arranged in parallelism during the rotation of the receptacle, and means constructed and Varf ranged to intercept andl uniformly support the suceeding groups of splints which escape from the said pockets or compartments when the latter progress to the bottom of the reL ceptacle. p i

More specilically, the invention comprises a rotary splint receiving cage 'having there'- in a cellular structure which provides parallel rows of pockets or compartments open# ing radially from the interior to the e'X-- terior of the cage, a guard partially encir-A cling the cage and presenting at the bottom of the latter an opening through which the contents of the pockets or compartments are discharged, and a continuously drivenl con-y veyer which receives the discharged lsplints in succeeding' rows and transfers them in anI orderly manner to a suitable receiver.

The invention also comprises-novel features of construction and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described a'nd claimed.

In the drawings-` Figure l isa front Velevation ofA splint straightening Aand assembling mechanism embodying vthe principle of my invention, showing its co-operative arrangement Vand connection with a `match making machine.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the said mechanism and connections. f Y

lFig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through a rotary cage element of thc mech anism, its guard, and the iinderlyingportion of a splint arranging and conveying belt.` l

Fig. lt is a longitudinal vertical section through the cage construction, as on the line lf-,4 of Fig. 3.

, Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the guard casing for the cage, showing an adjacent air pipefor clearing splints from the ascending pockets of the cage. A .i

Fig. 6 is a similar view, with parts `partly broken away, of a cellular `frame structure as removedA from the rotary cage, which structure alto-rds a series of open splint re ceiving pockets for the cage. p i l p Fig.` 7 is a perspectiveview of o ne of the transverse partitions of the cellular frame structure. o p l Fig. 8 is `a similar view, partly` iin section, of one of theend heads of the rotary cage; Fig.. 9 is a fragmentary section of adja-` cent portions ofthe cellular frame structure and its guard casing.. y v

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a rotary cage comprising two'circular end heads lland a cylindricahcell'ular structure between the same, said structure pro-` viding parallel rows of pockets or compart# ments opening radially from the interior to the exterior of the cage. In the present instance this structure comprises succeeding spaced-bars 12,- which are secured at theirends, as at 13,k to and around the periph'eries of the respective heads, and transverse par titins 14; which are interposed at intervals apart between adjacent bars; the partitions being conveniently ailixed` to the bars by means of end tr'nffguesr` 15 thereon enteredl in suitable apertures 15V iii the hars. The partitions and bars of each` row are so spaced and arranged that the width of each compartment is less and the length of the compartment is slightly greater than the length of a splint, so that quantities of the splints contained within the rotating cage enter the lowermost pockets in ahorizontal longitudinal position substantially parallel with the side walls 14 of the pockets. Each oi the end heads 11 is provided with a central opening 16 through which freely extends into the cagethe neck A17 of a conduit 18 leading from a source of.v splint supply and being of such capacity as to discharge the splints in large quantities into the cage.

Partially encircling the cage is a casing 19, vthe lower portion of which presents a longitudinal opening 2O below ythe path of the pockets, which casing thus `serves as an eliicient guard to prevent thepescape of the splints from the cage until the pockets suc'- cessively reach the opening. In the present instance the casing is suspended by suitably located hangers 21.

The cage may be continuously rotated by any suitable mechanism. In the present instance the end heads 1l are provided with suitable rims or tires 22 that rest upon pairs of flanged Wheels 23 located adjacent the respective ends of the cage. These wheels are carried by parallel shafts 24 having their bearings 25 on a. suitable supporting frame, as 26, one of said. shafts being equipped with a pulley 27 that is connected by means of a belt 28 with a pulley 29 on the shaft of a suitably-disposed electric motor 30. Hence continuous motion is ltransmitted from the motor tothe cage, and the latter may be rotated at any predetermined speed by varying the speed of the motorfin the usual manner. ,Y

During the rotation of the cage the splints therein are constantly rolling as in a. tum-y bling barrel, which4 operation has the effect of smoothing the splints by attrition. Atthe same time quantities of the splints are separated vfrom the massvand arranged in the progressing pockets in 'parallel position, and hence as such pockets approach and reach their lowermost position their contents escape the guard member, and in consequence the groups of splints drop Vfrom the succeeding rows of open pockets and below the cage. n l

Arranged directly beneath and adjacent the rotatingcage is the upper horizontal run of a broad endless belt conveyer 31 which travels in a path at right angles to the aXis of rotation of the cage and intercepts the succeeding rows of parallelsplints as they escape from the pockets `of the cage. The conveyer 3l underlies thewidth` of the cage and extends thence asubstantial distance to the point of discharge. This-.conveyer is 'supported andguided by pulleys 32, the sharia 'es of which have their bearings se on the main supporting frame.` One of the shafts 33 bears a pulley 35 which is driven by means of aA belt 36 from a pulley 37 on a driven element, as, for example, the shaft 38 of an adjacent match making machine. The speed of the conveyer 31 is constant, and it is so timed in relation to that of the rotating cage that the conveyer assists the passage of the splints from the respective rectangular pockets of the cage and positions them in parallelism on the conveyer and with the splints of succeeding rows in substantial alinement longitudinally. The splints thus orderly arranged on the conveyer are transferred therebyrto a suit-able receptacle or receptacles.

As a simple and efficient means to prevent `the continued upward travel of splints that may be contained within the pockets of the rotating cage, and also to contribute to the agitationy of the mass, I provide the guard casing 19, with a longitudinal slot 39 at the ascending side of the cage, and I arrange adjacent to and longitudinally of such slot an air pipe 40 having lateral vents 41 opening into the slot. This pipe is connected with a suitable sourceof supply. of

compressed air, and hence the air, flowing under pressure through the slot of the casing into the cage, forces fromthe succeeding rows of up-going pockets when they are passing the slot, any splints that may be contained in the pockets and also contributes to the agitation of the splints within the cage. In the present instance the rows of splints, in train, are delivered by the conveyer 31 to an elongated feed trough 42 through which travels a. partitioned bladeconveyer 43, saidV trough being so constructed and arranged that the splints are delivered in substantial parallelism into and transversely of the trough. rIhis trough has a rapid jarring action imparted there-to in order to insure the compact settling of the splints within the trough. The trough and its appurtenances herein illustrated `are old and they therefore need no particular description herein. Suice it to say, that the endless blade conveyer 43 is arranged to travel longitudinally of and through the trough, and by means of its spaced blades 44 partition the trough `into progressing compartments into which the splints are uniformly deposited as rapidly as they are discharged from the belt conve-yer 31. The trough 42 is provided at its discharging end with an extension 45 into which the. parallelized splints are delivered by the blade conveyer 43, such extension having at its extremity a depending discharge nozzle 46 through which the splints are delivered into the splint magazine of any known orA apn proved type of matchmaking inachine equipped with setting mechanism for ejectag tie lewermost splints from the magf- :meas-1e zine and inserting 'them`- row` by row into the perforlations of an endlesscarrie'r, as 4177.

By varying'the` speed of the rotary cage, through the motor control, the' delivery of the succeeding rows of splints from the cage to the transfer conveyer 3'1 'can be regulated to meet the requirements eflf the match machine;,it being noted that by increasing or reducing the speed of the cage the number of splints delivered thereby to the conveyer will be proportionately changed.

It is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the specific construction herein disclosed as the mechanism may be modiiied within the principle of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim v l. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination of a rotary receptacle including parallel rows of rectangular compartments, each compartment being proportioned to receive and carry a group of splints in parallelism, a continuously moving conveyer mounted to travel directly below and in angular relation to the axis of rotation of the receptacle, andmeans permitting the discharge of the con tents of each succeeding row of compartments upon the progressing conveyer during the rotation of the receptacle.

2. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, theJ combination of a rotary receptacle including parallel rows of rectangular compartments, each compartment being proportioned to receive and carry a group of splints inparallelism, a continuously moving conveyer -mounted to travel directly below and in angular relation to the axis of rotation of the receptacle, means permitting the discharge 'of the contents of each succeeding row of compartments upon the progressing conveyer during the rotation of the receptacle, and variable speed means :tor actuating the receptacle.

3. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination oi a rotary receptacle having parallel rows of peripheral compartments opening from the. interior to the exterior of the receptacle, each compartment being of less width and of greater length than the length of a splint and beinedesigned to receive and carry a group oia splints in parallelism, a guard casing partially encircling said receptacle and presenting an outlet longitudinally of and below the receptacle, and means beneath said outlet for receiving the contents of the progressing compartments.

4. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination of a rotary receptacle having parallel rows of peripheral compartments opening from the interior tothe exterior of the receptacle, each compartment being of less width and of greater length than the length of a splint `and being designed to receive and carry a group of `splints in parallelism, ay guard casingv partially encircling said receptacle and presenting an outlet longitudinally of and 'below the receptacle, and a continuously Vmoving `conveyer mounted lbeneath said outlet and arranged to intercept the succeeding rows of groups or' splints discharged `from the progressing compartments.

5. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination ot a rotary cage-like receptacle comprising a cylindrical structure providing parallel rows of compartments opening from the interior to the exterior of the receptacle, each compartment being of less width and of greater length than the length of a splint and being designed to receive and carry a group of splints in parallelism, a guard` casing par tially encircling said structure and present ing an outlet longitudinally of and below the structure, and a continuously moving conveyer mounted beneath said outlet and arranged to intercept the succeeding rows of groups ot splints discharged from the compartments.

6. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination of a rotary receptacle including a cylindrical cellular structure composed of bars in spacedparallel relation to each other and spacedapart partitions between adjacent bars, whereby parallel rows of rectangular compartments opening from the interior to the exterior of the structure are provided, each compartment being of less width and of greater length than the length of a splint and being designed to receive and carry a group of splints in parallelism, a guard casing partially encircling said structure and presenting an outlet longitudinally or' and below the structure. and n nntinuously moving conveyer mounted beneath said outlet and arranged to intercept the succeeding' rows of groups of splints discharged from the compartments.

7. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination with a rotary receptacle having parallel rows of peripheral compartments opening from the interior to the exterior of the receptacle, each compartment being of less width and of greater length than the length of a splint and being designed to receiveand carry a group of splints in parallelism, of a guard casing partially encircling said receptacle and presenting an outlet longitudinally of and below the receptacle, and pneumatic splint agitating means operative to force the splints `from the upsgoing compartments during their rotary travel.

8. In mechanism for straightening and assembling splints, the combination with a rotary receptacle having parallel rows of peripheral compartments opening from the CII llU

interior to the exterior of the receptacle, each compartment being of less Width and of greater length than a splint and being designed to receive and carry a group of splints in parallelism, of a guard vcasing partially encircling said receptacle and presenting an outlet longitudinally of and beloW the receptacle, said casing having an opening therein adjacent the ascending side of the receptacle, andan air-pipe located 10 adjacent said opening and having vents directed to the opening.

Signed at Barberton in the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 18 day of October A. D. 1924.

JACOB P. WRIGHT. 

